STUDIES ON FUSARIUM WILT DISEASES OF TOMATOES AND ITS NEW METHODS OF CONTROL

Abstract

Tomato Fusarial wilt is very dangerous diease which affect the plant growth and yield production. This work was carried out to achieve some alternative control methods instate of using fungicides in order to control this disease. The obtained results could be summarized as following: 1- Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici was isolated from six Egyptian governorates (Minufiya, Alexandria, Aswan, Behera, Sharqiya and Matrouh) with different frequency (25 - 42.35); respectively at Alexandria and Minufiya. 2-Pathoganicity test experiments showed that the most aggressive isolates were No 7 and No.9, obtained from Behera and Minufiya respectively. While the least aggressive ones were isolate (1) and (2) obtained from Alexandria and Aswan. 3- Laboratory experiments cleared that the best plant water extract for reducing the fungal growth were camphor and nerium and the least effective ones were aloe vera and pricklypear. In general, increasing the concentration of any tested plant extract reduced the fungal growth. 4- Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus kurs and Trichoderma viride gave inhibition zones when grown in dual culture against (isolate 7&9) Fusarium oxysporum f.sp . Lycopersici However, T. harzianum and T. spirillium showed overgrowth on pathogen tested isolates. 5- Tricoderma spirillium showed the most efficacy against the pathoyen isolates, where it reduced the average growth up to 72.73% (isolate7) and 70.14% (isolate9) 6-All tested fungicides reduced the growth of both isolates (7&9) compared than control; significantly. Increasing the Concentration of any fungicide, significantly reduced the fungal growth. 7- Brivio cultivar was the least susceptible one to wilt disease caused by isolate (9) of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp . Lycopersici under greenhouse conditions. While Elissa cultivar was the most susceptible one. 8- Aloe vera and nerium plant water extract were most effective ones for improving growth and reducing wilt disease symptoms Increasing the concentration of any tested plant extract (5-10- 20%) showed more positive results, both in plant growth and disease reduction. 9- Tricoderma spirillium showed the best efficiency either in improving plant growth or decreasing the disease symptoms. Trichoderma viride showed the least efficiency; in these request 10- Prevecure energy and Tachigaren fungicides gave the best results in reducing the wilt disease parameters and improving Elissa tomato cultivar growth.